Cycling Racing News and Opinion
July 29, 2014

LukeDurbridge has signed with Orica-GreenEdge for another three years. He will be an important part of Orica's assault on the world team time trial next month.

Another signing: Amaël Moinard has extended his service with BMC.

Lotto-Belisol will become Lotto-Soudal. The Belgian National lottery will sponsor the team at least through 2020. According to their web site, Soudal makes sealants, foams and adhesives. They replace Belisol, a Belgian maker of windows and doors and will also sponsor the team through 2020.

MTN-Qhubeka, a South African Continental team, has appointed a new manager, Brian Smith. He takes over immediately and will boss the team while it races the Vuelta. With riders of such quality as Gerold Ciolek, Linus Gerdemann, Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Sergio Pardilla and Ignatas Konovalovas, the team hits way above its weight. The team is switching from Trek to Cérvelo bikes.

Andrew Talansky may have crashed out of the Tour, but you can't keep a good man down. The Garmin-Sharp rider will be on the start line at the Vuelta to ride support for Ryder Hesjedal and Daniel Martin.

Chris Froome, who is still sporting a wrist cast from his misfortunes at the Tour de France, will ride the Vuelta as well.

Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali was back on his bike to ride the Aalst Criterium in East Flanders on Monday. Nieuwsblad.be reports that the Italian didn't come cheap, he was paid 38,328 Euros (51,358 USD; 30,210 GBP) to thrill the Flemish bike fans.

No sooner is the Tour de France in the bag and the speculation about the 2015 Giro and Tour routes has begun. De Telegraaf reports that the Giro d'Italia will begin in the coastal region of Liguria beginning with an 18-kilometer team time trial between San Lorenzo and San Remo, followed by two Ligurian road stages.